News, reviews, and commentary on the world of superhero comics from your favorite college professor (or me)

June 2011

June 9, 2011

Her interview with Jill Pantozzi, author of the recent piece "Oracle Is Stronger Than Batgirl Will Ever Be," is now up at Newsarama, and she is extremely candid and heartfelt about the decision--which was not hers, but she's comes to terms with it--to restore Barbara Gordon to the identity of Batgirl. She is mum about most of the details, including the post-Flashpoint status of Barbara's life as Oracle, but she did mention the rollback of "most all" DC characters (including those in the Bat-verse) to their younger, "less experienced" selves, which just does not mesh with what we've heard elsewhere, such as from Scott Snyder (also on Newsarama). I guess we'll see. (I was happy that she gave big props to Bryan Q. Miller for his work on the Stephanie Brown Batgirl title, which I thoroughly enjoyed since issue #1.) I hope to have more to say on this piece later, but for now, read and enjoy (and weep if you want).

She also commented on the Bendis Boards about the cancellation (without revival) of Secret Six, to my mind the best and most consistent DC title since its inception. What a fantastic, hilarious, irreverent, touching book; it will be missed.

Awesome news--CBR just reported that Tony Bedard and Ig Guara will launch Blue Beetle #1 in September (starring Jaime Reyes), and Newsarama has news of a new Suicide Squad #1 from Adam Glass and Marco Rudy (starring Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and King Shark)...

Here's a welcome development--even though I favor many of the changes coming in the Bat-world post-Flashpoint, especially the return of Bruce and Dick to their pre-RIP roles, I have wished that it would happen in story rather than as the result of fiddling with the timestream (this year's Superboy-punch).

But one thing I can definitely say is that the stuff you've loved about Batman over the years is still there. We're not just taking away things that people have liked from the past so that they haven't existed or don't matter. That isn't the mission at all here.

If there are elements of the Batman world and Batman history you love, I can tell you with confidence that those things are still there and still did happen. And they are part of the mythology of Batman as we're using it here.

New #1's from The Source this morning, including Wildstorm folks, a Western anthology, and everyone's favorite Terminator (no, not you, Arnold) - read more, from the announcement:

Stormwatch is a dangerous super human strike force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Jack Hawksmoor and the rest of the crew look to recruit two of the deadliest super humans on the planet: Midnighter and Apollo. And if they say no? Perhaps the Martian Manhunter can change their minds. Featuring a surprising new roster, STORMWATCH #1 will be written by the critically-acclaimed Paul Cornell (Superman: The Black Ring, “Dr. Who”) and illustrated by Miguel Sepulveda.

Blackhawk is an elite group of mercenaries made up of brave men from around the world equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles. Their mission: Kill the bad guys before they kill us. A set of contemporary tales that battle the world’s gravest threats, BLACKHAWKS #1 will be written by Mike Costa and illustrated by Ken Lashley.

The grandson of the original Sgt. Rock assumes the command of Easy Company, a team of crack ex-military men financed by a covert military contractor, as they brave the battle-scarred landscape carved by the DC Universe’s super-villains. SGT. ROCK AND THE MEN OF WAR #1 is contemporary military story fighting under modern conditions, and will be written by Ivan Brandon and illustrated by Tom Derenick.

Even when Gotham City was just a one-horse town, crime was rampant – and things only get worse when bounty hunter Jonah Hex comes to town. Can Amadeus Arkham, a pioneer in criminal psychology, enlist Hex’s special brand of justice to help the Gotham Police Department track down a vicious serial killer? Featuring back-up stories starring DC’s other western heroes, ALL-STAR WESTERN #1 will be written by the fan-favorite Jonah Hex team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti and illustrated by Moritat.

A metahuman mercenary who made a living taking out the toughest targets, Deathstroke will reclaim his fearsome legacy by any means necessary in DEATHSTROKE #1, a new series from rising star Kyle Higgins (Batman: Gates of Gotham) and artists Joe Bennett and Art Thibert.

Ex-black ops agent Cole Cash is a charming grifter that few can resist. And yet he’s about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form – creatures only he can see. Can the biggest sweet talker of all time talk his way out of this one when even his brother thinks he’s gone over the edge? Find out in GRIFTER #1, written by Nathan Edmondson with art by CAFU and BIT (the team behind T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS).

A man loses control of his life as the omnipresent Brother Eye transforms him against his will into a powerful killing machine OMAC #1, written by DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio and co-written and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Scott Koblish.

Again, not much for me to get excited about here, other than some great writers (Higgins, Cornell, Palmiotti and Gray). But I gotta hand it to DC, they're certainly mixing it up more post-Flashpoint, topically if not creator-wise. (See the interview with Didio and Lee--conducted by Ambush Bug--at Ain't It Cool.)

Wow, I guess Marvel wants part of the "shooting ourselves in the foot" action--the Associated Press (what, no love for comics blogs, Marvel?) just announced that Uncanny X-Men, the premier X-book among approximately 106 (give or take), will end in October with issue 544, as a result of the Schism event starting soon. (Or perhaps Flashpoint has further reaching ramifications than anyone thought...)

On Twitter, current Uncanny writer Kieron Gillen said, "When I joined Uncanny after S.W.O.R.D. I thought "There's no way I can get THIS cancelled". But there are no limits to my power." (He kids--Journey to Mystery, featuring Li'l Loki, is fantastic.)

Kid Flash, Superboy, and Wonder Girl are part of the Titans roster, but they don't look exactly look like themselves.

DD: All of these characters have history with the DC Universe that existed before the team is built, but it might be just slightly different. But I think in capturing the voice and the spirit of these characters, I think they're exactly who people think they are.

JL: There are going to be a lot of surprises.

DD: I think you're looking at every one of the former Robins to have a real showcase book, and this will be the primary showcase for Tim Drake.

Every one of the former Robins, Mr. Didio? Even a certain blonde ex-Batgirl? We shall see, but I won't get my hopes up...